Foot-In-Mouth Disease

Today’s topic is one which is near and dear to me, as it regards an affliction which affects me daily. ‘Foot-In-Mouth’ disease is an innate ability to say inappropriate things at usually inappropriate times. Now, ordinarily, these comments are meant to be nice, or at least constructive. However….sometimes, things just don’t come out right.

Allow me to illustrate my point. A number of years ago, I was at the post office. It was about 3 to 4 days before Christmas, and I met someone inside whom I had known for years, and had known his parents for even longer. (I’ll call him ‘X’ to protect his identity). And as you know, Christmas is a time of year which often brings out the best in us. As I saw ‘Mr. X’, I felt this need come over me to console him, as friends should. ‘X’ I said, ‘it must be difficult…